Biography | Filmography | Portraits | InthePress | Awards | DJEfansCare | DJEEncounters | Links | About

David James Elliott

Was born David Smith, on September 21, 1960, in Milton (a small suburb of Toronto), Ontario, Canada.

He is the middle son of three. His father, Arnold Smith, was a heating and plumbing wholesaler-contractor and his mother, Pat Farrow, an office manager.

He quit high school and moved to Toronto to be the front man for a punk band. He returned to Milton High School when it became clear the band was not going to make it and graduated in 1980. 

Fall of 1980 - May 1983. David was enrolled in Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, in Toronto.

1983 -1985 David studied at the prestigious Stratford Shakespearean Festival. While part of the company, David performed in a number of stage productions along side some of the best stage actors. It was a tremendous learning experience. He was awarded the Jean Chalmers Award as Most Promising Actor in 1983.

David Smith becomes David Elliott when he joins the actors union.

1985 played the role of "Judd" in the play Oklahoma

1986/1987 played the role of "Dick" a dim- witted stripper
in the play
   B Movie:The Play.

1987-1989 Starred in Street Legal

(David was spotted by one of the producers of the CBC's Street Legal while playing the role in B Movie and was asked to audition for the role of "Nick Del Gado" a Toronto police detective.)

1987-1989 During these same years, David had guest appearances in; Adderly, Police Academy III, The Big Town,
Night Friends, The Climb.

1990 - David followed his dream and moved to Hollywood.

1990-1992 The development deal he had with Disney fell through so he spent these years struggling to make a name for himself in Hollywood. He had guest appearances on various television series such as China Beach, The Hidden Room, Dark Justice, Knots Landing, Doogie Howser and a recurring role in the series Fly By Night. He also had a small role in the made for TV movie Lethal Charm.

1992- A significant year for David in both his personal and professional life...
He marries actress Nanci Chambers and...lands the role of Treasury Agent Paul Robbins in the television series The Untouchables.   It was filmed in Chicago which meant a 'move' for David and Nanci.

1993 David becomes a father with the birth of his daughter, Stephanie.

1993-1995 David without 'steady' work during this time appeared in guest spots in two made for TV movies, Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story and Degree of Guilt. He also had guest appearances on Melrose Place, and Seinfeld. David credits much of this later success to his guest shot on Seinfeld noting that the phone calls started coming with "We didn't know he could do comedy!"

1995-2005 JAG David's big break. He lands the starring role of Harmon Rabb Jr. in the television series JAG. Through the years, the shows ratings continued to climb and David attained much success.

Although busy with JAG,   David continued to star in movies  . . . and had guest appearances on other television shows. 

1996- Movie- Holiday Affair.

1997- Movie- Clockwatchers

1998- David was the voice of THOR, god of Thunder, in the animated TV show Hercules.

1999 -Maggie Winters

2000- MADTV andBette  where he appeared as himself playing his role of 'Harm'.

2000 - The Shrink Is In

2001- David expands his skill base by going behind the camera to produce the made for TV movie Dodson's Journey. This was the first project for his production company, ''Firefly Productions'. He was in front of the camera as well in the starring role as Jim Dodson.  His wife, Nanci, had a small role and was part of the production.

2002- Starred in the TV movie Code 11-14.
His wife, Nanci, also had a starring role.

In 3/2001, 2/2004 and 11/2004 David demonstrated another talent by
directing three JAG episodes; Lifeline, Take It Like a Man and
There Goes the Neighborhood respectively.  Behind the scenes pictures are
from the set of Take It Like a Man and There Goes the Neighborhood

At the same time, David's personal life was just as busy...

1999- David and Nanci treat themselves to the wedding they had promised themselves seven years earlier  and... 

2003- David becomes a father for the second time...his son Wyatt was born in March

In Oct of 2003, David became an American Citizen.

 2000- David wins FAVORITE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES  at the 2nd Annual TV Guide  Awards for his role as Harmon Rabb, Jr. in the series JAG, 

2003- David is awarded the
Audie Murphy Theatrical Award
  for his "outstanding performance in a
television series"

David has always loved running and has participated in many marathons and triathlons.  With JAG over, David set out to accomplish a personal dream, his goal of competing in and completing the Ironman Triathlon.  In Oct. 2005  he did just that.  He obtained the title of Ironman  competing in the Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

David's first project after JAG, was starring in the movie The Man Who Lost Himself, the Terry Evenshen story.  He went back to Canada to film the movie in 6/2005 and the movie was released in 11/2005.   David needed some special training for this movie as his role required him to play football.

When David's contract with JAG expired,  he signed a developement contract with ABC.  He was named as the male lead in the pilot 60 Minute Man,   however the pilot was not picked up for a series.

May 2006 - David had a guest appearance on the show Medium

June 2006 - David joins the cast of Close to Home

August 2007 was a busy month. David filmed the theatrical film production The Rainbow Tribe.   Distribution is expected in the summer of 2009.  He also filmed the Lifetime Network movie production Secrets of a Sex Addict to air on April 19, 2008.

September 2007 - David signed on to the Canadian TV series The Guard  for a 6 episode guest star role.  His character suffered with MS.

October 2007 - David filmed the family movie Gooby

May 2008 David filmed the mini-series Impact to air on ABC during the summer of 2009.  It is David's entry into Sci-Fi.  

July 2008 David signs on to another Sci-Fi mini-series, this time entering the world of fantasy, in The Knights of Bloodsteel.  Project to air on the Sci-Fi channel in April 2009.